Rory Donnelly

[tetsujin1979]

Christian Wilhelmsson, recently signed by LA Galaxy

[nigel-harps1954]

Anyone remember Lasha Chelidze from Georgia?

Or the biggest one of all, Freddy Adu.

[DannyInvincible]

Or the biggest one of all, Freddy Adu.

Came across this write-up on Adu's unfortunate demise at the beginning of the month: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20184398

If, indeed, it could be called a demise, for he never really reached that pedestal the hype had so assuredly convinced us he would.

[Charlie Darwin]

Donnelly's finish for Swansea in Friday's win over Yeovil was outstanding. He got a hat trick last week in a game in Holland. He'll be behind Michu, Bony and others this season but it looks like he's doing his chances of a loan deal no harm.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29r8IL9jVtA

~5 minutes

[youngirish]

Not sure if this has been referenced before but can't be bothered to check:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22745927

Reading between the lines it appears to me he's waiting for a chance with us though you could argue he's just not sure enough yet and is bidding his time.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was brought up in the eligibility thread a couple of months ago. Reading between the lines, the guy is keeping his options open. If the FAI made a move, you'd have to think he'd be amenable. Unfortunately, the FAI have decided (in spite of the IFA's hypocritical campaign of misinformation) that they won't deal with any IFA player unless he makes the first move.

[Sullivinho]

I imagine with family and other miscellaneous proxies in the mix, the first move shouldn't be an issue. Ideally, the player's own ambition would trump professional pragmatism, which ought to be relegated to Plan C (the Bruce manoeuvre).

In the meantime, another one (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23395944) today for Donnelly.

[Deckydee]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22745927

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough midfielder Jordan Jones and Swansea forward Rory Donnelly do not wish to be considered for selection for Northern Ireland

[DannyInvincible]

Donnelly made his first competitive start for Swansea tonight in their 2-1 Europa League qualifier loss away to Petrolul Ploiești. Swansea did go through 6-3 on aggregate, mind. Had been watching a stream of the game intermittently and it didn't look like Donnelly was having a great game despite his hard work up front. Perhaps nerves got the better of him. Most notably, poor control allowed a relatively easy cross-pitch pass roll out of play for a throw-in whilst he also squandered two decent opportunities to score. For the best of the two, he actually had the ball in the net after a one-on-one with the keeper inside the box. He really should have scored from his initial effort but kicked the ball straight at the keeper from close range only for it to rebound back off his arm before he volleyed it into the net. The ref disallowed the goal due to his handling of the ball.

[Charlie Darwin]

He was on the bench tonight in the absence of Bony and Michu but still didn't make it on the pitch at 3-0 down. You'd reckon he needs to go out on loan to get some playing experience before he can challenge for time at Swansea.

[tetsujin1979]

on the bench again this afternoon against United in the cup

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Laudrup is really reluctant to use Donnelly. They're getting hammered every week and he still won't spring him off the bench. He knows more than we do but you never know unless you try. I reckon he should give him 5 or 10 minutes off the bench one of these afternoons when they are losing 3 or 4-0 and have nothing to lose.

[BonnieShels]

Laudrup is really reluctant to use Donnelly. They're getting hammered every week and he still won't spring him off the bench. He knows more than we do but you never know unless you try. I reckon he should give him 5 or 10 minutes off the bench one of these afternoons when they are losing 3 or 4-0 and have nothing to lose.

Agree with you on that. they were absolutely práisce today.

A game that Donnelly could've been used for a 10min spell.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

https://twitter.com/rorydonnelly92

Off to Coventry until the end of the season.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Rory-Donnelly-stay-Swansea-City-rest-season/story-20557822-detail/story.html

Donnelly returns to Swansea citing personal reasons.

[Charlie Darwin]

Out for three months following ankle surgery: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-City-striker-Rory-Donnelly-months/story-22018376-detail/story.html

[Deckydee]

https://twitter.com/rorydonnelly92/status/533343810408169472

Some good news?

[Charlie Darwin]

On loan to League Two Tranmere.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

https://twitter.com/rorydonnelly92/status/533343810408169472

Some good news?

Is that a verified Twitter account?

[tetsujin1979]

it's not verified, but it is Rory's account

[Charlie Darwin]

Two for Donnelly on his home debut for Tranmere. Wonder will Swansea be looking for a new striker now Bony is gone though.

[Charlie Darwin]

Joins John Egan and Bradley Garmston at Gillingham: http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/gillingham-fc-sign-striker-rory-donnelly-2509360.aspx

[DannyInvincible]

Donnelly's goal for Gillingham (http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11737/10011699/watch-rory-donnellys-wonder-goal-for-gillingham) against Fleetwood last night:

http://giant.gfycat.com/BoilingGrouchyDeer.gif

[tricky_colour]

Blimey!!!

He is better than Lewandowski! :congratulatory:

So what is the score with him regarding nationality?

As I understand it he is not tied to anyone at the moment, are we going to let another one slip though the net?

I am thinking about starting him v Germany. :beguiled:

[DeLorean]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view6/4135340/henrik-larsson-vs-rangers-6-2-o.gif

Reminded me of this

[tricky_colour]

He seems to have a bit of the Gareth Bale about him!!! (except better) seriously we need to get him capped.

[Olé Olé]

His career really stalled at times for Swansea e.g. when he missed the second half of the 2013/2014 season after cancelling his loan to Coventry due to personal reasons (mysterious enough to take such a step). Rodgers leaving after signing him was also a tough one on him.

Seems to have the odd awesome goal in him but is clearly not worthy of a senior call-up. I'd have thought an under 21 cap would have been forthcoming had he demonstrated a willingness. He demonstrated a lack of willingness to represent Northern Ireland in the past.

[Olé Olé]

I'll just leave this here though... https://twitter.com/rorydonnelly92/status/533343810408169472

[SkStu]

Scored 2 today.

Call him up Trap!

[tricky_colour]

I'll just leave this here though... https://twitter.com/rorydonnelly92/status/533343810408169472

Not sure what you mean by that, however he still follows the NI FA and does not follow the FAI

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65shdujl_4
Not quite as spectacular as his previous effort but they all count.

[Closed Account]

Lets be fair to the earlier goal, great finish, great composure be he got a huge slice of luck that the left mids tackle beat the last defender for him. He still had to finish though, kudos for that.

[tricky_colour]

Lets be fair to the earlier goal, great finish, great composure be he got a huge slice of luck that the left mids tackle beat the last defender for him. He still had to finish though, kudos for that.

Well it is hard to see who put the ball forward in that gif, however it was a classy finish full of confidence.
I am sure we have plenty up front who would have managed to screw it up somehow.

Having said that he has not scored any goal for Gillingham this season indeed he had gone
22 games without scoring and then he scores 4 in 2 games (in 4 days) IIRC.

[tricky_colour]

http://talksport.com/football/watch-sensational-run-and-chip-former-swansea-striker-150930168564


By talkSPORT (http://talksport.com/author/talkSPORT) (@talkSPORT (https://twitter.com/talkSPORT)) | Wednesday, September 30, 2015

You can certainly see why a host of Premier League (http://talksport.com/football/premier-league) sides were competing to sign this young striker.
After impressing for non-league side Cliftonville, the likes of Liverpool, Everton (http://talksport.com/football/everton) and Swansea were all competing to sign Northern Irish youngster Rory Donnelly, with the Welsh side winning the race.

He failed to make a senior league appearance in two and a half years at the Liberty Stadium, however, and sealed a move to Gillingham this summer in a bid for more first team football (http://talksport.com/football).

And the 23-year-old is already taking League One (http://talksport.com/football/league-one) by storm, as evidenced by this scything run and deft chipped goal against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday.

Check out the sublime finish above!



So all chasing bar the FAI. And not ever newspaper report says Northern Irish.

[tricky_colour]

another goal yesterday 6th goal in 4 game, told you we should have played him V Poland!!

[tricky_colour]

This we can forget about him

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/donnelly-dreaming-of-euros-44650/



His home country qualified for the European Championships in France next summer on Thursday night, their first major tournament in 30 years.
Donnelly said: “They (Northern Ireland) did really well to get to France and let’s see what happens now. I would love to play for them but I just have to keep the performances up.”



It seems he may have been considering switching to the Republic at one point, or maybe we got the wrong end of the stick
and assume that when he didn't want to play for NI, maybe if we had made an approach then things might have been different, but perhaps
more likely we jumped to the wrong conclusion?

[Charlie Darwin]

This we can forget about him

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/donnelly-dreaming-of-euros-44650/



It seems he may have been considering switching to the Republic at one point, or maybe we got the wrong end of the stick
and assume that when he didn't want to play for NI, maybe if we had made an approach then things might have been different, but perhaps
more likely we jumped to the wrong conclusion?
He and his brother are Ireland fans, but with NI at the Euros Rory obviously sees them as a legitimate option for an ambitious player and fancies his chances.

[tricky_colour]

He and his brother are Ireland fans, but with NI at the Euros Rory obviously sees them as a legitimate option for an ambitious player and fancies his chances.

Maybe, in football these days money often seems to come first country second.
But every player is different and sees things differently, for example for someone like Beckham
playing for England will help his image and the products he endorses, that is not to say he would not
do so anyway of course.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd say with that comment he's simply keeping his options open. He'll not alienate one or the other with comments of 'we' or 'us' and simply says "They did really well".

[Olé Olé]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/why-are-the-same-fans-not-celebrating-both-irish-victories-1.2385859

That article shines a bit of light on how support tends to go up North. I found this chap's comments particularly interesting:

Outside the Michael Davitt GAC bar on the Falls, Seán O’Neill (60) explained he would like football to operate on an all-island basis, like rugby and boxing.
“My son Seán plays for Crusaders and played for Northern Ireland up to under 21. He also played Gaelic for Antrim. He loves it. I would support the Republic of Ireland team more so than Northern Ireland.
“I am Irish and we just beat the world champions. I would love to see an all-Ireland football team. It might happen in a lot of years time but it’s too early for it now.”


His Twitter activity on the 8th of October is particularly interesting:
1. "Good luck to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland tonight"
2. Retweets a video of Shane Long's goal
3. "Btw Shane longs finish tonight epic *4 shamrocks*"
4. Tweets a picture of NI's group's final standing "Lost 1 game in 9 games amazing from everybody @OfficialIrishFA shows how far this team have come"

Hard to read what's going on with this lad but I don't think he's switched and if a friendly call-up is forthcoming for him then we can forget about him.

Pity he didn't switch or was approached to switch while his career was a lot more quiet at Swansea.

[Gather round]

I'm guessing Mike O'Neill will pick four frontmen for the Finals squad.

Current pecking order:

Kyle Lafferty
Josh Magennis
Liam Boyce
Will Grigg
Billy McKay
?